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The aim of this study was to determine serum lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity in parallel with HDL 2 and HDL 3 amounts and composition in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and chronic hypertensive (CH) mothers and in their small for gestational age (SGA) newborns. LCAT activity was assayed by conversion of [ 3 H] cholesterol to labelled cholesteryl ester. HDL 2 and HDL 3 were separated by ultracentrifugation. At term, cholesterol values were similar in PIH, CH and controls. However, higher levels of triglycerides were observed in PIH and CH (+20% and +21%, respectively) as compared with normotensive control mothers (NC). HDL 2 and HDL 3 -phospholipids, HDL 2 -cholesterol concentrations and LCAT activity were lower in PIH and CH mothers than in NC mothers. Similar changes were also observed in SGA newborns of PHI mothers and in SGA newborns of CH mothers when compared to appropriate for gestational age newborns of control mothers (AGA-NC). In addition, SGA newborns showed low HDL 2 and HDL 3 apoA-I contents. Maternal hypertension and foetal intrauterine growth retardation are associated with profound abnormalities in HDL metabolism, consistent with an atherogenic risk. SGA lipoprotein profiles appear to implicate later metabolic diseases.

PRIMVAC is a VAR2CSA-derived placental malaria vaccine candidate aiming to prevent serious clinical outcomes of Plasmodium falciparum infection during pregnancy. We assessed the safety and immunogenicity of PRIMVAC adjuvanted with Alhydrogel or glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant in stable emulsion (GLA-SE) in French and Burkinabe women who were not pregnant. This first-in-human, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose escalation trial was done in two staggered phases, a phase 1A trial in 18–35-year-old women who were malaria naive in a hospital in France and a subsequent phase 1B trial in women who were naturally exposed to P falciparum and nulligravid in the clinical site of a research centre in Burkina Faso. Volunteers were recruited into four sequential cohorts receiving PRIMVAC intramuscularly at day 0, 28, and 56: two cohorts in France receiving 20 μg or 50 μg of PRIMVAC and then two in Burkina Faso receiving 50 μg or 100 μg of PRIMVAC. Volunteers were randomly assigned (1:1) to two groups (PRIMVAC adjuvanted with either Alhydrogel or GLA-SE) in France and randomly assigned (2:2:1) to three groups (PRIMVAC adjuvanted with either Alhydrogel, GLA-SE, or placebo) in Burkina Faso. Randomisation was centralised, using stratification by cohort and blocks of variable size, and syringes were masked by opaque labels. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants with any grade 3 or higher adverse reaction to vaccination up until day 35. Safety at later time points as well as humoral and cellular immunogenicity were assessed in secondary endpoints. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02658253. Between April 19, 2016, and July 13, 2017, 68 women (18 in France, 50 in Burkina Faso) of 101 assessed for eligibility were included. No serious adverse event related to the vaccine occurred. PRIMVAC antibody titres increased with each dose and seroconversion was observed in all women vaccinated with PRIMVAC (n=57). PRIMVAC antibody titres reached a peak (geometric mean 11 843·0, optical density [OD] 1·0, 95% CI 7559·8–18 552·9 with 100 μg dose and GLA-SE) 1 week after the third vaccination (day 63). Compared with Alhydrogel, GLA-SE tended to improve the PRIMVAC antibody response (geometric mean 2163·5, OD 1·0, 95% CI 1315·7–3557·7 with 100 μg dose and Alhydrogel at day 63). 1 year after the last vaccination, 20 (71%) of 28 women who were vaccinated with PRIMVAC/Alhydrogel and 26 (93%) of 28 women who were vaccinated with PRIMVAC/GLA-SE still had anti-PRIMVAC antibodies, although antibody magnitude was markedly lower (452·4, OD 1·0, 95% CI 321·8–636·1 with 100 μg dose and GLA-SE). These antibodies reacted with native homologous VAR2CSA expressed by NF54-CSA infected erythrocytes (fold change from baseline at day 63 with 100 μg dose and GLA-SE: 10·74, 95% CI 8·36–13·79). Limited cross-recognition, restricted to sera collected from women that received the 100 μg PRIMVAC dose, was observed against heterologous VAR2CSA variants expressed by FCR3-CSA (fold change from baseline at day 63: 1·49, 95% CI 1·19–1·88) and 7G8-CSA infected erythrocytes (1·2, 1·08–1·34). PRIMVAC adjuvanted with Alhydrogel or GLA-SE had an acceptable safety profile, was immunogenic, and induced functional antibodies reacting with the homologous VAR2CSA variant expressed by NF54-CSA infected erythrocytes. Cross-reactivity against heterologous VAR2CSA variants was limited and only observed in the higher dose group. An alternate schedule of immunisation, antigen dose, and combinations with other VAR2CSA-based vaccines are envisaged to improve the cross-reactivity against heterologous VAR2CSA variants. Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, through Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, Germany; Inserm, and Institut National de Transfusion Sanguine, France; Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ireland.

Advancement in material science has enabled the engineers to enhance the strength and long-term behavior of concrete structures. The conventional approach is to use steel for prestressed bridge girders. Despite having good ductility and strength, beams prestressed with steel are susceptible to corrosion when subjected to environmental exposure. The corrosion of the prestressing steel reduces load carrying capacity of the prestressed member and result in catastrophic failures. In the last decades, more durable composite materials such as Aramid Fiber Reinforced Polymer (AFRP), Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) have been implemented in concrete structures as a solution to this problem. Among these materials, CFRP stands out as a primary prestressing reinforcement, which has the potential to replace steel and provide corrosion free prestressed bridge girders. Despite its promise, prestressing CFRP has not frequently been used for bridge construction worldwide. The major contributing factor to the lack of advancement of this promising technology in the United States (U.S.) is the lack of comprehensive design specifications. Apart from a limited number of guides, manuals, and commentaries, there is currently no standard or comprehensive design guideline available to bridge engineers in the U.S. for the design of concrete structures prestressed with CFRP systems. The main goal is to develop design guidelines in AASHTO-LRFD format for concrete bridge girders with prestressing CFRP materials. The guidelines are intended to address the limitation in current AASHTO-LRFD Bridge Design Specifications which is applicable for prestressed bridge girders with steel strands. To accomplish this goal, some of the critical parameters that affect the design and long-term behavior of prestressed concrete bridge girders with prestressing CFRP systems are identified and included in the research work. This paper presents preliminary results of an experimental study that is part of a National Highway Co-operative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) project.

Advancement in material science has enabled the engineers to enhance the strength and long-term behavior of concrete structures. The conventional approach is to use steel for prestressed bridge girders. Despite having good ductility and strength, beams prestressed with steel are susceptible to corrosion when subjected to environmental exposure. The corrosion of the prestressing steel reduces load carrying capacity of the prestressed member and result in catastrophic failures. In the last decades, more durable composite materials such as Aramid Fiber Reinforced Polymer (AFRP), Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) have been implemented in concrete structures as a solution to this problem. Among these materials, CFRP stands out as a primary prestressing reinforcement, which has the potential to replace steel and provide corrosion free prestressed bridge girders. Despite its promise, prestressing CFRP has not frequently been used for bridge construction worldwide. The major contributing factor to the lack of advancement of this promising technology in the United States (U.S.) is the lack of comprehensive design specifications. Apart from a limited number of guides, manuals, and commentaries, there is currently no standard or comprehensive design guideline available to bridge engineers in the U.S. for the design of concrete structures prestressed with CFRP systems. The main goal is to develop design guidelines in AASHTO-LRFD format for concrete bridge girders with prestressing CFRP materials. The guidelines are intended to address the limitation in current AASHTO-LRFD Bridge Design Specifications which is applicable for prestressed bridge girders with steel strands. To accomplish this goal, some of the critical parameters that affect the design and long-term behavior of prestressed concrete bridge girders with prestressing CFRP systems are identified and included in the research work. This paper presents preliminary results of an experimental study that is part of a National Highway Co-operative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) project.

This paper focused on optimal stress distribution in the mandibular bone surrounding a dental implant and devoted to the development of a modified Osteoplant implant type in order to minimize stress concentration in the bone/implant interface. This study investigated two elastomeric stress barriers incorporated into the dental implant using 3-D finite element analysis. Overall, this proposed implant provoked lower bone/implant interface stresses due to the effect of the elastomers as stress absorbers.Key Words: Dental implant, stress absorber, elastomer, finite element method

The solids transport is a complex phenomenon; the intensity of these phenomena varies greatly with the general environment: geology, degree of rock alteration, hydrology, vegetation, climate, etc. The extent of the phenomenon is out of proportion in semi-arid areas or areas with temperate climates. So Algeria is one of the countries most affected by this phenomenon and its consequences. To enable a rapid response to demands from engineers for the quantification of bed load transport at the outlet of a catchment area, a simple tool easy to implement has been developed. The principle adopted is based on hydrometric data from gauging stations, and seasonal and annual analyses have defined an appropriate method for estimating the sediment yield. The study was conducted by analysis of average flows. The Pierre de Chat Station at the outlet of the Tafna watershed was used for application. The results obtained were quite satisfactory because the correlation coefficients of the model: QS = f (Q) are between 87 and 96%. This method once refined can be generalized to all the watersheds of northern Algeria.

This investigation involved the utilization of the combination of lime, jaggery, and gallnut powder, adopted in South India traditionally. This combination of materials, used for the manufacture of lime-based mortars, was adopted in stabilization of an expansive soil. Three combinations of lime, jaggery, and gallnut powder (LJG) in the ratios of 8 : 2 : 2, 8 : 2 : 1, and 8 : 1 : 2 were put into use. The effect of subjecting the combinations to alternate cycles of freeze-thaw (up to 3 cycles) and three different curing conditions of air, moisture, and heat was also investigated. In addition, a mineralogical investigation for studying the reaction products was also carried out. The investigation proceeded with the determination of the unconfined compression strength (UCS) of stabilized specimens of dimensions 38 mm × 76 mm, cured for periods of 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. The results of the investigation revealed that the addition of LJG resulted in an increase in the strength of the stabilized soil. Freeze-thaw cycles resulted in a reduction in strength with LJG821 proving to be the most optimal combination developing the maximum strength and least strength loss due to freeze-thaw cycles. Thermal curing proved to be the most optimal curing condition out of all curing conditions evaluated.

Short needles (8 mm) reduce the risk of intramuscular injections in children with type 1 diabetes. N Tubiana-Rufi , N Belarbi , L Du Pasquier-Fediaevsky , M Polak , B Kakou , L Leridon , M Hassan and P Czernichow Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Robert Debré Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, France. nadia.tubiana@rdb.ap-hop-paris.fr Abstract OBJECTIVE: To study whether 8-mm needles can reduce the frequency of intramuscular injections in diabetic children. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective crossover study in 50 children whose BMI was < or = 60th percentile to compare two lengths of needles (12.7 and 8 mm) regarding the occurrence of intramuscular injections as assessed by ultrasonography. RESULTS: The frequency of intramuscular injections was 86% with the 12.7-mm needles and 38% with the 8-mm needles. The frequency of intramuscular injections was significantly reduced when using the 8-mm needles in the arms (P < 0.01) and thighs (P < 0.001). The efficiency of 8-mm needles, as defined by an intramuscular injection with a 12.7-mm needle and a subcutaneous injection with an 8-mm needle, was found for half of the children who injected in the arm and for two-thirds of the children who injected in the thigh. The subcutaneous tissue (SQT) thickness measured by ultrasonography with a skinfold was significantly higher (9.8 +/- 2.2 mm) in the group in which the 8-mm needles were efficient than in the group in which they were not efficient (6.8 +/- 2.1 mm, P < 0.0001). The efficiency of the 8-mm needle was not related to age, sex, BMI, percentile of BMI, injection device, or injection site. The sensibility and specificity of SQT thickness in predicting the efficiency of the 8-mm needles were both 79%. CONCLUSIONS: Needles that are 8 mm long significantly reduce the risk of intramuscular insulin injection in slim or normal-weight (BMI < or = 60th percentile) diabetic children and adolescents.

An α-amylase encoding gene from the extremely thermophilic Archaea Thermococcus hydrothermalis was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The encoded α-amylase possesses molecular characteristics specific to the Archaea, especially from Pyrococcus species, with biochemical characteristics of the α-amylases from Thermococcus. The gene is 1374 bp long and encodes a protein of 457 amino acids composed of a 22 amino acid putative signal peptide and a 435 amino acid mature protein (calculated molecular mass 49 236 Da). The T. hydrothermalis recombinant α-amylase is optimally active at 75–85°C and at pH 5.0–5.5.